Vermont-based manufacturer NRG Systems in 2005 built a new headquarters carefully crafted to reflect the company’s commitment to the environment, the community and its employees. The 46,550 square foot facility, which includes office, manufacturing and warehouse space for company-produced wind monitoring equipment, was designed to minimize environmental impacts and maximize energy conservation.

The first design goal was to find ways to minimize energy needs in all areas of building operation, including heating, cooling and lighting. The second goal was to provide as much energy from renewable sources as possible. Company owners were willing to make an upfront investment to ensure significant long-term savings.

Naomi Miller of Naomi Miller Lighting Design specified the electric lighting and Andy Shapiro of Energy Balance, Inc. developed the facility’s daylighting plan. The two designers collaborated with Watt Stopper/Legrand to select energy saving controls that would meet the ambitious criteria of the project.

Schneider Electric announced that its Square D® Clipsal® line of lighting control products is being incorporated into a major energy retrofit project at Fay Herron Elementary School in North Las Vegas, Nev. The school, part of the Clark County School District, is the subject of a project that includes HVAC replacement and installation of new insulated walls and dropped ceilings, in addition to lighting control. Eight of the 12 buildings on the Fay Herron Elementary School campus have been completed; the entire project should conclude in summer 2007.

The University of Toronto’s new “electronic classroom” combines familiar audiovisual equipment, such as slide projectors and VCRs, with such sophisticated equipment as a multi-sync data/video projection system and multi-scene preset dimming controls. Instructors can now electronically enhance their lectures with an integrated user-friendly presentation system.

How do you upgrade the 14-year-old dimming system of a 33,000 sq. foot ballroom that utilizes low voltage wiring? Simple: a retrofit installation utilizing the LYTEmode™ Architectural Lighting Control System.

At the Philadelphia Marriott, in Philadelphia, PA, this was the task at hand that was given to Larry Fine, Senior Architectural Representative for Lightolier®.

A number of studies demonstrate that personal dimming can result in higher productivity—specifically in the metrics of vigilance, motivation and satisfaction—and also in energy savings. This dual impact can result in an improved bottom line and more satisfied employees and tenants. These advantages are resulting in a significant new trend towards adoption of personal dimming solutions among designers and building owners.

This white paper makes the case for personal control, in particular giving occupants the ability to control their own light levels through dimming.

Pier 69 on Seattle’s historic waterfront was built in 1931 to warehouse rolls of metal for the production of canned salmon containers. The only concrete pier on the waterfront, Pier 69 stretches over 750 feet long and 135 feet wide. Hewitt Isley tackled this stolid building to create a new home for the Port of Seattle’s administrative headquarters. Their dynamic reno-vation created what the Seattle Weekly named “one of the grandest indoor spaces in the Northwest.”